William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Bard College

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Bard College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

William Paterson University of New Jersey
Bard College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Bard College #184
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Bard College -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Bard College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Bard College $55,235
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Bard College 74%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Bard College Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Bard College 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Bard College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Bard College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Bard College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Bard College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Bard College Low
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Bard College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Bard College 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Bard College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • Bard College $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Bard College 42%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Bard College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Bard College Medium
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Bard College No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Bard College 63%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Bard College 6%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Bard College 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Bard College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Bard College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Bard College 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Bard College 60%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Yes
  • Bard College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Bard College No
  • Meal Plan
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Yes
  • Bard College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Bard College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Yes
  • Bard College No
  • Learn More
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Details
  • Bard College Details

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ with Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Bard College 9:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Bard College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Bard College ($13,509 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 13.9% lower than at Bard College ($16,240 vs. $18,852).
  • Bard College is 323.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $50,732 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 162.1% higher at Bard College than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $41,092 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at Bard College (86% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 267.3% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($55,235 vs. $15,040).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Bard College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bard College and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is 190 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345; Bard College 1270/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBard College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Bard College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than Bard College (52.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William Paterson University of New Jersey and Bard College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,500 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have a $1,694 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($24,500 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($253 vs. $270).
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.